Filenews 27 January 2024 - by Ioanna Mantipia
No action has been taken to date to save Akrotiri Salt Lake, despite meetings and announcements made last year to take immediate measures to save the peninsula.
One of the most important wetlands in the Eastern Mediterranean, Akrotiri Salt Lake, has suffered a huge ecological disaster, with the area in danger of turning into a vast swamp, however, its rescue lies in the hands of the Government, with the Sala clarifying through a letter to the Ministry of Transport, that the State should bear the costs for the preparation of the study and the execution of any infrastructure projects that may arise.
Despite the fact that it was intended to assign the Sewerage Board of Limassol – Amathus to lead the effort to conduct a comprehensive study, however, nothing has been done. As "F" is informed, the Sala has been waiting for months, waiting for a response from the Ministry of Transport on several serious issues it has raised in writing, in order to postpone the preparation of a comprehensive study, on the basis of timetables, with the ultimate aim of taking measures and resolving the problem.
In its letter, the SALA clarifies that for the assignment of responsibility for the preparation of the study on its part, there should be clear political support by a decision of a Ministerial and not just a legal opinion or ministerial decision.
He also notes that this is necessary, as many different co-competent ministries and government departments are involved, which should approach the issue positively and contribute constructively to the preparation of the study. Among other things, it indicates that a decision of the Cabinet should determine the composition of the Management Team, which will be under the overall coordination of SALA.
As noted, the composition of the Management Team should consist of representatives of the Department of Water Development, Environment, Public Works, Town Planning and Housing, Department of Forests, Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the Game Service, the Limassol District Administration and the British Bases.
In addition to the Management Team, the SALA stresses that the state should bear all the costs for the preparation of the study, while underlining that the area is outside its geographical boundaries and the income of the SALA comes from fees imposed on residents outside this area and for other purposes.
He also clarifies that the Council has no know-how in this field and there are no specialties such as hydrologists, biologists, birders, geologists, urban planners, etc. "Without the immediate recruitment of specialists with the status of fixed-term employees (EEA) for the entire duration of the study, who will be responsible for writing the terms and technical specifications of the study, the tender documents, the evaluation of the tenders and the general coordination and monitoring of the contract with the firm that will carry out the study, the SALA will not be able to execute the project in a reliable and efficient manner at all," it said.
The same information states that the Sala has proposed to the involved ministries the construction of a sewerage system in the three communities adjacent to Aliki (Akrotiri, Asomatos and Cherkez Tsiftlik). In fact, it has submitted a relevant proposal for the immediate expansion of its geographical boundaries, so as to cover these communities as well, in order to be able to proceed with the design of the project.
